This beautiful image is the first in a sequence of three by Jayson McIvor and was taken on January 11th, at 17:21 Pacific Standard Time (PST). The sky was not quite dark yet. (See next image by Jayson!)

Al Paslow Astronomy Collection

Images and events of personal interest.

This beautiful object was recently located in the evening sky and early morning sky too. Discovered August 7, 2006 by R. H. McNaught (Siding Spring Survey). It is approaching perihelion on Jan. 11, 2007 and was visible very low on the west horizon immediately after the sunset. It was visible in the daytime sky ( Jan 14, 2007 )& is the brightest comet since 1965. Now having moved southward it is only visible in the southern hemisphere.

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Al-Paslow > Dan McKeel of Upper St. Clair, PA took this fantastic image of Comet McNaught on the evening of Jan 8, 2007. Camera - Canon 300 D. with 300mm lens at f-5. Exposure was 1/6 sec. ISO 800. (Click on the above image to enlarge.)

See an incredible full size image of this at: http://telescopium.org/Comet_McNaught_Image.html

Al-Paslow > Canon 300 D. with 300mm lens at f-5. 1/6 sec. ISO 800. (Clink on the above image to enlarge.

Al-Paslow > The Comet as it asppears in the Daytime sky on Jan 16, 2007 at approx 1:30 pm. The sky has been make dark purposly to show that the planets Mercury & Venus are also nearby. Mercury is a bit over 5 degrees from the sun and Venus is approx. 19 degrees. The great comet is a scant 10.5 degrees from the sun on this date and time.
Note 10 degrees is just about a "fist wide" held with your arm fully extended. I imputed the orbital elements into Starry Night Pro to obtain this image. ( North is up on this on all images here.) Click on the above image to enlarge.

Al-Paslow > California Amateur Joe Perry e-mailed this image of the Comet taken in broad daylight on Sunday Jan 14, 2006. Wow!! Click on image above to enlarge.

For a dramatic full size image of this nd other images scroll down the page at: http://telescopium.org/Comet-McNaught_2.html

Al-Paslow > Joe Perry's image of Comet MCNaught late in the afternoon on Jan 14, 07 taken from Hawaii. Just prior to this the Comet was plainly visible in the daytime sky! Click on the above image to enlarge.

Al-Paslow > On Jan 17, 2006 I took this image in 26 degree weather of the planet Venus setting in the sunset fom a vantge point near my home; in South Park. On Jan 8, the comet was visible from this same area and dissappeared to the right of the big house that appears in the extream right hand side of this image. Goodbye great Comet...we will miss you!

Click on the next image for more great Comet McNaught images!!

Al-Paslow > This beautiful image is the first in a sequence of three by Jayson McIvor and was taken on January 11th, at 17:21 Pacific Standard Time (PST).

The sky was not quite dark yet. (See next image by Jayson!)

Al-Paslow > Jayson McIvor recalls... "I took these from the Sammamish Plateau, my hometown, just 20 west of Seattle Washington."

"I love astronomy as a whole, though I don't keep up on the latest news that trickles down. I guess you could say I am more of you typical "couch potato" astronomer.
As for taking a picture of the comet, it is pretty rare to be able to see comets, though it seems in my lifetime (30 years old), that I have been blessed with quite a few." "The backdrop of colors was due to
sunset,
the only time in our area when the comet was visible."

Camera Settings:
Nikon D200 using a 105mm f2.5 AIS on a tripod using a remote cord.
Aperture: f-11
Shutter Speed: 2 seconds
ISO: 100

This beautiful image is the first in a sequence of three by Jayson McIvor and was taken on January 11th, at 17:21 Pacific Standard Time (PST).

The sky was not quite dark yet. (See next image by Jayson!)